Race helps build new animal shelter

Published: Saturday, September 15, 2012 at 7:28 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, September 15, 2012 at 7:28 p.m.

You can take your dog out for a run or walk while helping homeless animals in Terrebonne Parish next month.

The second annual 5K-9 Run-Walk, an event to benefit the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter, is scheduled for 8 a.m. Oct. 20 at the Houma Air Base Pavilion, 221 Moffet Road.

Valerie Robinson, manager of the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter, said the run-walk was a big hit last year. Residents appreciated having an event that welcomed their four-legged friends.

“It’s a super dog-friendly event and was such a great time last year,” Robinson said. “We’re hoping it will be even better this year.”

Entry fees for the 5K run-walk are $20 if you register before Oct. 1 and $25 afterward. The fee for the half-mile run/walk is $15 before Oct. 1 and $20 after. All proceeds go toward construction of Terrebonne’s new animal shelter.

The half-mile run-walk is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and the 5K at 9:30 a.m. Registration on race day begins at 8 a.m. The event will feature activities for everyone in the family, including the four-legged members of the family. There will also be a deejay, food, drinks and activities for kids.

The Friends of the Animal Shelter, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the shelter and its animals, sponsors this event.

Last week, the Terrebonne Parish Council voted to hire an architect to begin designing the new shelter, Robinson said.

The parish government has set aside land in Gray and committed $1 million in federal recovery grant money received after hurricanes Gustav and Ike to build a new shelter.

Friends of the Terrebonne Animal Shelter is raising money to help make up the difference, said Nicki Breaux, a member of the Friends group.

The animal shelter, 131 Plant Road, Houma, offers many programs to help people with their pets, including a low-cost spay and neuter program.

A new animal shelter is sorely needed in Terrebonne Parish, animal advocates said. The shelter not only houses stray animals, but owner-surrendered animals, injured animals and animals involved in court cases. Because of the size of the current facility, fewer animals can be held.

The original shelter was built to house 75 animals. The shelter’s average intake is now 135 animals per week.

“Our concern is the animals coming in and the lack of space to keep them,” Breaux said. “We want to hold these adoptable animals longer and give them a better chance to find a home.”

Currently, animals that are quarantined because they’re sick or being held as part of an abuse case are housed side-by-side with adoptable animals. The new shelter would have a separate area for quarantined animals.

The 30-year-old shelter is also in a flood zone.

“It will be much safer for the animals,” Robinson said.

Registration forms for the 5K are located at local animal hospitals and on Friends of the Terrebonne Animal Shelter’s Facebook page.

Nikki Buskey can be reached at 857-2205 or nicole.buskey@houmatoday.com.

<p>You can take your dog out for a run or walk while helping homeless animals in Terrebonne Parish next month.</p><p>The second annual 5K-9 Run-Walk, an event to benefit the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter, is scheduled for 8 a.m. Oct. 20 at the Houma Air Base Pavilion, 221 Moffet Road.</p><p>Valerie Robinson, manager of the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter, said the run-walk was a big hit last year. Residents appreciated having an event that welcomed their four-legged friends. </p><p>“It's a super dog-friendly event and was such a great time last year,” Robinson said. “We're hoping it will be even better this year.”</p><p>Entry fees for the 5K run-walk are $20 if you register before Oct. 1 and $25 afterward. The fee for the half-mile run/walk is $15 before Oct. 1 and $20 after. All proceeds go toward construction of Terrebonne's new animal shelter.</p><p>The half-mile run-walk is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and the 5K at 9:30 a.m. Registration on race day begins at 8 a.m. The event will feature activities for everyone in the family, including the four-legged members of the family. There will also be a deejay, food, drinks and activities for kids.</p><p>The Friends of the Animal Shelter, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the shelter and its animals, sponsors this event. </p><p>Last week, the Terrebonne Parish Council voted to hire an architect to begin designing the new shelter, Robinson said.</p><p>The parish government has set aside land in Gray and committed $1 million in federal recovery grant money received after hurricanes Gustav and Ike to build a new shelter.</p><p>Friends of the Terrebonne Animal Shelter is raising money to help make up the difference, said Nicki Breaux, a member of the Friends group.</p><p>The animal shelter, 131 Plant Road, Houma, offers many programs to help people with their pets, including a low-cost spay and neuter program.</p><p>A new animal shelter is sorely needed in Terrebonne Parish, animal advocates said. The shelter not only houses stray animals, but owner-surrendered animals, injured animals and animals involved in court cases. Because of the size of the current facility, fewer animals can be held. </p><p>The original shelter was built to house 75 animals. The shelter's average intake is now 135 animals per week.</p><p>“Our concern is the animals coming in and the lack of space to keep them,” Breaux said. “We want to hold these adoptable animals longer and give them a better chance to find a home.”</p><p>Currently, animals that are quarantined because they're sick or being held as part of an abuse case are housed side-by-side with adoptable animals. The new shelter would have a separate area for quarantined animals.</p><p>The 30-year-old shelter is also in a flood zone.</p><p>“It will be much safer for the animals,” Robinson said.</p><p>Registration forms for the 5K are located at local animal hospitals and on Friends of the Terrebonne Animal Shelter's Facebook page.</p><p>Nikki Buskey can be reached at 857-2205 or nicole.buskey@houmatoday.com.</p>